[Rowan126]

Heya,

I have started studying my first year of A-levels: Maths, Physics, Media Studies and English Lang. I have quite enjoyed and felt interested in the first 3 however I do not feel too interested or engaged with English Lang. I know that I have only had two lessons so far, but I can just sense that I wont really enjoy it. My teachers also say to change as early as possible to make sure you don't fall behind on too much.

I am quite a logical person and so generally I prefer subjects like Maths but I also enjoy working in ICT and computers as I got a Merit in my ICT in GCSE last summer.

So I am thinking of changing to Applied ICT or Computing? Is this a wise choice as I know I would prefer those kind of subjects, but not sure if its a good move career wise. I am not really sure what kind of career I want in the future but it is generally either going to be in computers/technology, in the media or working somewhere in Finance like Accountancy.

Thanks for help

[Crystaltears]

Well if you might want to go into computing for a career, then it might be a good choice.
I changed from Law to Biology after about 3 weeks and was SO glad I did. However, I did have to re-sit the first module because I never really caught up from those first few weeks I missed.

If the only reason you would stick with English is because your thinking it would be a bad move career wise then do computing because English Language is blacklisted anyway, so it's not that respected in terms of Uni.

If you know you will enjoy computing then do that!

[EvieWonder]

English Language isn't blacklisted as far as I'm aware, but I would still go with the bulk of the point made above and go for computing. I reckon computing would complement your general mix of AS Levels, and, as the curriculum seems to be pretty fragmented in terms of links between subjects, it can only be beneficial to pursue those that have the potential to feed nicely into the others, provided you enjoy them.

[h0lly]

Computing would be better and English Language is not blacklisted, it's just "some" universities (ie. Oxbridge) usually prefer Literature.

[Rowan126]

Thanks everyone What's everyone's opinion of Applied ICT? I'm not too keen on the programming side of Computing

[sigstuff]

Don't do applied ICT, it's a pile of ****!

[snivellus]

I'd do computing. I did AS ICT and dropped it after the first year because it was so rubbish (and for science degree courses, it's not highly regarded).

[mdhey_89]

Do not change from a respected subject to one that's little more respected than a piece of toilet paper. If you're going to change, do it for something like Maths/Physics.

[EvieWonder]

I'd imagine it's preferred for certain subjects, but if we're looking at, for example, Linguistics at Oxbridge, I should think English Language would stand you in just as good stead (as English Literature); it's not on their list of 'unsuitable subjects', per se.

[Solar]

Originally Posted by sigstuff

Don't do applied ICT, it's a pile of ****!

Seconded.

Seriously, i used to love ICT and i chose to do Applied and it is the worst subject ever. Ridiculously boring and hardly related to computers at all. This year we're are making "multimedia projects for clients" for example a powerpoint quiz....

[i'm no superman]

Yeah, I'd change and do Computing.

[Rowan126]

Ah ok so it seems best to avoid Applied ICT due to its more vocational status. It seems that I'll be switching to computing then if I am allowed, is there anything I should look forward to or look out for on that course then? The exam board I'm sure is OCR. Thanks again all

[inksplodge]

ICT is blacklisted; computing is not. That's the way I understand it, anyway!